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Adipose tissue macrophages can promote beige adipose thermogenesis by altering local sympathetic activity. Here, we perform sympathectomy in mice and further eradicate subcutaneous adipose macrophages and discover that these macrophages have a direct beige-promoting function that is independent of sympathetic system. We further identify adipocyte Ets1 as a vital mediator in this process. The anti-inflammatory M2 macrophages suppress Ets1 expression in adipocytes, transcriptionally activate mitochondrial biogenesis, as well as suppress mitochondrial clearance, thereby increasing the mitochondrial numbers and promoting the beiging process. Male adipocyte Ets1 knock-in mice are completely cold intolerant, whereas male mice lacking Ets1 in adipocytes show enhanced energy expenditure and are resistant to metabolic disorders caused by high-fat-diet. Our findings elucidate a direct communication between M2 macrophages and adipocytes, and uncover a function for Ets1 in responding to macrophages and negatively governing mitochondrial content and beige adipocyte formation. Adipose beiging is a positive biological change, which is often thought to be primarily sympathetically induced. Here, the authors show that M2 macrophages can independently promote beige adipogenesis, further revealing the adipocyte transcription factor Ets1 as a negative regulator of this process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The surface coatings of cereal plants are dominated by waxy β-diketones crucial for drought resistance and, therefore, grain yield. Here, barley (Hordeum vulgare) wax analyses reveal β-diketone and associated 2-alkanol ester profiles suggesting a common C16 3-ketoacid precursor. Isotope analysis further shows that the major (C31) diketone is synthesized from two plastidial C16 acyl units. Previous studies identified a gene cluster encoding enzymes responsible for β-diketone formation in barley, but left their biochemical functions unknown. Various assays now characterize one of these enzymes as a thioesterase producing long-chain (mainly C16) 3-ketoacids, and another one as a polyketide synthase (PKS) condensing the 3-ketoacids with long-chain (mainly C16) acyl-CoAs into β-diketones. The two enzymes are localized to the plastids and Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER), respectively, implying substrate transfer between these two sub-cellular compartments. Overall, our findings define a two-step pathway involving an unprecedented PKS reaction leading directly to the β-diketone products. Barley plants coat their organs with waxy diketones to protect against late-summer droughts. These diketones are formed by two enzymes, one diverting common fatty acids from normal metabolism and the other one linking two fatty acid units together. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: To observe the characteristics of suction loss in small-incision lenticule extraction (SMILE) and analyze the factors affecting the stability of the suction ring, classify and grade suction loss, and determine the principles for its prevention and control. Methods: This study enrolled patients who underwent SMILE between June 2014 and June 2017. The relationship between the stability of the suction ring and suction loss was ascertained using surgical records and video recordings. The suction loss was classified and graded according to its characteristics and relationship with eye or head movement. The effect of target intervention on suction loss was observed. Results: Suction loss can be divided into sudden and progressive types. According to the severity, the latter was divided into three grades (grade 1A or 1B, 2 and 3). Of the 1200 eyes (608 patients), two (0.17%) had sudden suction loss, and 132 (11%) had progressive suction loss. The superior part, inferior part, and other parts accounted for 63.4%, 19.3%, and 17.3% of progressive suction loss, respectively. The proportion of grades 1A, 1B, 2, and 3 suction loss was 53%, 34%, 12%, and 1%, respectively. The location of the threatened suction loss was opposite to the direction of the patient's head movement. After the intraoperative intervention, grades 1 and 2 did not develop into "actual" suction loss. Conclusions: Progressive suction loss was the most frequently observed suction loss during SMILE procedure. Grading suction loss can elucidate its underlying mechanism, which can guide targeted intervention measures to effectively control and reduce suction loss-induced damage, and further improve the safety and efficacy of SMILE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interests in using nonlinear acoustic methods for incipient damage detection continue to grow tremendously as the understanding of nonlinearities in micro-cracked and cracked solids. It is widely known that nonlinear effects caused by cracks are stronger than crack-induced linear phenomena. However, understanding physical mechanisms related to various nonlinearities still needs to be clarified, which is vital to implementing nonlinear ultrasonics for engineering applications. To this end, an element-based homogenized method is proposed, which can consider the randomness of distributed microcracks in the framework of continuum mechanics. A quadrilateral element with one horizontal crack is constructed as a reference model. The reference model is homogenized to be orthotropic but with different moduli in tension and compression to account for stiffness asymmetric due to crack opening and closing. Unlike the existing homogenized method, which usually simplifies the representative volume element as a homogeneous part and requires only one constitutive model for the equivalent material of the whole structure, we assign the constitutive relationship of the same reference model to all the finite elements but with random principal material directions to take randomly oriented microcracks into consideration. The proposed method is compared with the finite element contact model that defines contact properties on crack surfaces. It is validated that the proposed method agrees well with the contact model for simulating the nonlinearities in wave interaction with the microcracks but at a much lower computational cost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a 3D homogenized model able to simulate the nonlinear effects generated by the interaction of ultrasonic waves with microcracks. A hexahedral element with one horizontal elliptical crack is constructed as a reference model. The reference model is smeared to be orthotropic but with different moduli in tension and compression to account for stiffness asymmetry due to crack opening and closure. Different from the existing homogenized models that usually simplify the representative volume element as a homogeneous part and require only one constitutive model for the equivalent material of the whole structure, we assign the constitutive relationship of the same reference model to all the finite elements but with random principal material orientations to take randomly oriented microcracks into consideration. In this way, the randomness of distributed microcracks can be considered in the framework of continuum mechanics. In this manner, the experimentally observed nonlinear effects, such as the generation of both even and odd harmonics, can be reproduced. The developed model has been verified for a 3D bar and a 3D plate. Particularly, the influence of crack density on the amplitude of higher harmonics is analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multi-modal biomedical imaging has played an essential role in tumor diagnosis. However, constructing a multi-modal imaging contrast agent with high affinity to a tumor is challenging. Herein, we studied the design and application of a PET/MRI dual-modal imaging agent based on superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPION). αvβ3-targeting RGD peptide and 64Cu were conjugated onto SPION. Small animal PET and MR imaging in glioblastoma tumor-bearing mice revealed that this dual-modal imaging contrast agent could potentially be utilized for PET/MRI dual-modal imaging for the tumor diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, imaging, fecal immunochemical tests (FITs) and serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) tests are not adequate for the early detection and evaluation of metastasis and recurrence in colorectal cancer (CRC). To comprehensively identify and validate more accurate noninvasive biomarkers in urine, we implement a staged discovery-verification-validation pipeline in 657 urine and 993 tissue samples from healthy controls and CRC patients with a distinct metastatic risk. The generated diagnostic signature combined with the FIT test reveals a significantly increased sensitivity (+21.2% in the training set, +43.7% in the validation set) compared to FIT alone. Moreover, the generated metastatic signature for risk stratification correctly predicts over 50% of CEA-negative metastatic patients. The tissue validation shows that elevated urinary protein biomarkers reflect their alterations in tissue. Here, we show promising urinary protein signatures and provide potential interventional targets to reliably detect CRC, although further multi-center external validation is needed to generalize the findings. More sensitive and specific non-invasive biomarkers are desired for early detection of cancer. Here, the authors show a protein signature in the urine that increases sensitivity for colorectal cancer detection when combined with fecal immunochemical tests and corrects diagnosis in some fecal immunochemical tests-negative patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Diabetes mellitus (DM), a prevalent chronic metabolic disorder, has seen an escalating incidence each year, thereby imposing significant burdens on both public health and socio-economic structures. Although numerous outstanding studies have focused on the regeneration of diabetic islets, a gap exists in the form of comprehensive bibliometric analyses in this area.We employed bibliometric methods to encapsulate and depict the worldwide research directions in this field. Our study engaged in a detailed screening of 552 scholarly articles on diabetic islet regeneration from 2012 to 2022.Our findings indicate a consistent upward trajectory in both publications and citations. Geographically, China holds the forefront in terms of publication volume, followed closely by the United States, India, and Japan. However, in citation quantity, the United States takes the lead, with China, India, and Italy trailing. Institutional contributions are led by the University of Pennsylvania in publication volume, while Harvard University ranks first in citation frequency. Notably, the Journal of Ethnopharmacology emerged as the most prolific journal and achieved a high citation ranking. The current research focal points encompass cell maturation, regenerative medicine, cellular replacement, and gene expression analysis.This study offers an exhaustive bibliometric perspective on the global research trends concerning diabetic islet regeneration over the last decade. It highlights that areas such as beta-cell proliferation, regeneration, and replacement continue to be pivotal in the research landscape for diabetes management.Methods: Diabetes mellitus (DM), a prevalent chronic metabolic disorder, has seen an escalating incidence each year, thereby imposing significant burdens on both public health and socio-economic structures. Although numerous outstanding studies have focused on the regeneration of diabetic islets, a gap exists in the form of comprehensive bibliometric analyses in this area.We employed bibliometric methods to encapsulate and depict the worldwide research directions in this field. Our study engaged in a detailed screening of 552 scholarly articles on diabetic islet regeneration from 2012 to 2022.Our findings indicate a consistent upward trajectory in both publications and citations. Geographically, China holds the forefront in terms of publication volume, followed closely by the United States, India, and Japan. However, in citation quantity, the United States takes the lead, with China, India, and Italy trailing. Institutional contributions are led by the University of Pennsylvania in publication volume, while Harvard University ranks first in citation frequency. Notably, the Journal of Ethnopharmacology emerged as the most prolific journal and achieved a high citation ranking. The current research focal points encompass cell maturation, regenerative medicine, cellular replacement, and gene expression analysis.This study offers an exhaustive bibliometric perspective on the global research trends concerning diabetic islet regeneration over the last decade. It highlights that areas such as beta-cell proliferation, regeneration, and replacement continue to be pivotal in the research landscape for diabetes management.Results: Diabetes mellitus (DM), a prevalent chronic metabolic disorder, has seen an escalating incidence each year, thereby imposing significant burdens on both public health and socio-economic structures. Although numerous outstanding studies have focused on the regeneration of diabetic islets, a gap exists in the form of comprehensive bibliometric analyses in this area.We employed bibliometric methods to encapsulate and depict the worldwide research directions in this field. Our study engaged in a detailed screening of 552 scholarly articles on diabetic islet regeneration from 2012 to 2022.Our findings indicate a consistent upward trajectory in both publications and citations. Geographically, China holds the forefront in terms of publication volume, followed closely by the United States, India, and Japan. However, in citation quantity, the United States takes the lead, with China, India, and Italy trailing. Institutional contributions are led by the University of Pennsylvania in publication volume, while Harvard University ranks first in citation frequency. Notably, the Journal of Ethnopharmacology emerged as the most prolific journal and achieved a high citation ranking. The current research focal points encompass cell maturation, regenerative medicine, cellular replacement, and gene expression analysis.This study offers an exhaustive bibliometric perspective on the global research trends concerning diabetic islet regeneration over the last decade. It highlights that areas such as beta-cell proliferation, regeneration, and replacement continue to be pivotal in the research landscape for diabetes management.Conclusion: Diabetes mellitus (DM), a prevalent chronic metabolic disorder, has seen an escalating incidence each year, thereby imposing significant burdens on both public health and socio-economic structures. Although numerous outstanding studies have focused on the regeneration of diabetic islets, a gap exists in the form of comprehensive bibliometric analyses in this area.We employed bibliometric methods to encapsulate and depict the worldwide research directions in this field. Our study engaged in a detailed screening of 552 scholarly articles on diabetic islet regeneration from 2012 to 2022.Our findings indicate a consistent upward trajectory in both publications and citations. Geographically, China holds the forefront in terms of publication volume, followed closely by the United States, India, and Japan. However, in citation quantity, the United States takes the lead, with China, India, and Italy trailing. Institutional contributions are led by the University of Pennsylvania in publication volume, while Harvard University ranks first in citation frequency. Notably, the Journal of Ethnopharmacology emerged as the most prolific journal and achieved a high citation ranking. The current research focal points encompass cell maturation, regenerative medicine, cellular replacement, and gene expression analysis.This study offers an exhaustive bibliometric perspective on the global research trends concerning diabetic islet regeneration over the last decade. It highlights that areas such as beta-cell proliferation, regeneration, and replacement continue to be pivotal in the research landscape for diabetes management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The semiterrestrial isopod, Ligia exotica represents one of the oldest documented species introductions of marine organisms and is known as an intermediate form between marine and strictly terrestrial isopods. In order to explore the potential value of Ligia as an animal food source, this study focused on the growth rate under laboratory rearing conditions and conducted a detailed analysis of the overall nutrient content of the species in comparison to two other marine food media (krill and fish meal). Evaluation of the growth rate of juveniles suggests it is a relatively fast-growing species of the Ligiidae family. The essential amino acids content Ligia meal is the lowest amongst the three studied media but the proportion of flavor amino acids, and in particular taurine, was higher. The most restricted amino acids of isopod meal are methionine and cysteine. The significantly unbalanced amino acid composition of Ligia meal may affect the absorption and utilization by consumers. In terms of fatty acids, the total polyunsaturated fatty acids in the isopod is very low. A total of 12 vitamins were examined. The VK1, VE, VB2, VB3, VB5 content of isopod meal were significantly higher than those of krill meal and fish meal. Similarly, most of the 11 mineral elements are highest in the isopod meal. Ligia therefore offers potential as an alternative natural food source in animal given the growth rate under culture and the overall nutrient content. But Ligia collected in most of the field would be deemed unfit for human consumption because of the relatively low nutritional value and heavy metal content exceeding the provided standard. Further study is warranted to elucidate the biological characteristics of isopods and how its diet is reflected in its nutritional value to consumers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this work is to simulate the formation of coaxial electrohydrodynamic jet (CE-Jet) and obtain the optimized working parameters for coaxial electrohydrodynamic focused jet printing (CEFJP), then further direct writing nanoscale structures. In this paper, a pioneering simulation of CE-Jet process based on three phase flow of liquid–liquid–air model was developed. The photoresist (AZ703)/silicone oil was employed to verify the simulation. The simulated result of the CE-Jet consisted with the experimental result very well, which proves the correction of the CE-Jet model. Based on the simulation, the effect of working parameters including the applied voltage and the flow rate of inner coaxial liquid on the morphology and size of the CE-Jet were examined. With the use of the optimized working parameters obtained from the simulation and taking the materials of lead zirconate titanate (PZT) and photoresist (AZ703) as inner liquid, the stable nanoscale inner jet was focused by the compound effect of electrical shearing force, viscous shearing force and internal pressure. Then, the nanostructures of various patterns with diameter of 70 nm were directly printed. The CE-Jet model developed in this work provides a powerful tool to investigate the CEFJP process, and the CEFJP technique exhibited a promising method for producing nanoscale structures for M/NEMS devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is a crucial reaction for various energy conversion and storage devices, but the sluggish kinetics and the usage of noble metals greatly restrict its practical device applications. In this work, a well-designed high-performance catalyst for ORR was synthesized via a facile one-step Co-MOF carbonization method, in which Co-MOF was prepared using the cobalt acetate tetrahydrate and 2,2′-bipyridyl-5,5′-dicarboxylic acid (H2bpydc) as the only raw materials and H2bpydc as the favorable carbon and nitrogen source for in situ nitrogen doping and metallic cobalt reduction. The resultant 3D mesoporous carbon foam catalyst with embedded Co nanoparticles (CoN-CF) is enriched with nitrogen, which exhibits high specific surface area and abundant N-doping active sites for catalytic ORR. In particular, the optimized CoN-CF-700 sample displays the best catalytic performances including onset potential of 0.94 V, half-wave potential of 0.85 V, long-term durability and superior resistance to methanol poisoning. The demonstrated synthetic strategy provides a new insight into easy-synthesis and high-economy routes for metal-N-C catalysts and a deeper understanding of the effects of microstructures on catalytic mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The morphologies of eumelanin, isolated from the six cephalopods species Sepia esculenta, Sepia lycidas, Sepia pharaonis, Sepiella japonica, Euprymna berryi, and Uroteuthis (Photololigo) edulis, were investigated using atomic force microscopy (AFM). The results showed that the hierarchical aggregate structures of irregular spherical particles with different diameters are the common characteristics of these eumelanins. Furthermore, the diameters of these spherical particles present an uneven distribution in a wide range and mainly concentrate in the range of about 20-150 nm. In addition, the eumelanin from different cephalopods species show obvious differences in the morphologies, which is illustrated by different assembly forms of diverse aggregate units and the quantitative features of eumelanin particles derived from the images. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]